Roller Derby coming to Sioux City, organizers hope
By John Quinlan, Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2008
"Enthusiasm is the biggest part of the whole thing, Libby "Punky Brewster Red" Claeys said Wednesday night at MacBehr's at an informational meeting about organizing a flat-surface Women's Roller Derby League in Sioux City. "This is just, bare minimum, fun. I can't wait."
About two dozen men and women attended, half of them young women who looked fit enough to slap on their skates and take on one of the teams from Sioux Falls or Omaha.
There were also a couple of gents who just happened to be eating in the restaurant area where the meeting area was held and found themselves caught up in the action.
Then there was that guy from the local rugby club. "I'm Terry, and I'm an alcoholic," he said during the round of introductions, clearly joking, in the spirit of the event. He and his club members were there to support the women.
Event coordinators Phil Claeys and his daughter Libby explained the basics of flat-surface Roller Derby, which has leagues in Sioux Falls, Omaha, Lincoln, Des Moines, Iowa City and elsewhere.
Some initial signups were made at the end of the meeting. A second gathering will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 23, also at MacBehr's, where the formal signup of players and volunteer staff will take place, coaches and teams established and initial practice times set.
Men can find slots as referees, marketers, security, scorekeepers, ushers, announcers and such, he said. "It's a women's thing run by women, and they let us hang around," he noted.
As one man/fan noted: "Watching a lot of girls running around and kicking ass sounds like a fun thing."
The goal is to find two practice teams totaling 20 players, but if they only get enough for one team, 10 players or more, that will do for now, Claeys said. Ideally one league team would be selected by tryouts by members of the two practice teams.
"We don't want anybody sitting on the bench, and we may end up having some outstanding players," he said.
Participants were asked to check out various Web sites about the game before the next meeting. A $50 cash registration fee is required at the Jan. 23 meeting for all players, coaches and referees. This registers them with the USA Roller Sports Association.
Melissa "Mo Pain" Ditteberner of Gayville, Iowa, a close friend of Libby Claeys, said she has never played Roller Derby, but she skates a lot and can hardly wait to begin.
Morningside College student Angie Edwards of Correctionville, Iowa, said she is excited about the game. "I roller skated a lot as a kid. I work with Libby and she's excited and she got me excited about it," Edwards said.
Though she's never played Roller Derby, Edwards said she is a competitive person who played all the sports in high school. "It sounds fun," she said.
"I've already signed up," said Laura Macklem of Sioux CIty. "I'm really excited about it. When my fiance Ralph and I go to the (Sioux Falls) Roller Dollz all the time and watch and I always told him, 'Man, I wish Sioux City would get a team 'cuz I wanted to kind of sign up with them but their practice times would conflict with my work schedule. So I couldn't do it. And when I saw it in The Weekender, I was just like -- Wow, I can't wait!"
Macklem said she roller skates on a regular basis at the Rollerama with her two kids, and has become an expert at dodging small, moving objects, and can now skate faster backwards than anybody else can forward.
Much needs to be done over the next few months, Phil Claeys told them. Though the teams will develop at their own pace, he said he hopes to have them ready for a "big event" contest at the Long Lines Family Recreation Center during next July's River-Cade celebration.
About two dozen men and women attended, half of them young women who looked fit enough to slap on their skates and take on one of the teams from Sioux Falls or Omaha.
There were also a couple of gents who just happened to be eating in the restaurant area where the meeting area was held and found themselves caught up in the action.
Then there was that guy from the local rugby club. "I'm Terry, and I'm an alcoholic," he said during the round of introductions, clearly joking, in the spirit of the event. He and his club members were there to support the women.
Event coordinators Phil Claeys and his daughter Libby explained the basics of flat-surface Roller Derby, which has leagues in Sioux Falls, Omaha, Lincoln, Des Moines, Iowa City and elsewhere.
Some initial signups were made at the end of the meeting. A second gathering will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 23, also at MacBehr's, where the formal signup of players and volunteer staff will take place, coaches and teams established and initial practice times set.
Men can find slots as referees, marketers, security, scorekeepers, ushers, announcers and such, he said. "It's a women's thing run by women, and they let us hang around," he noted.
As one man/fan noted: "Watching a lot of girls running around and kicking ass sounds like a fun thing."
The goal is to find two practice teams totaling 20 players, but if they only get enough for one team, 10 players or more, that will do for now, Claeys said. Ideally one league team would be selected by tryouts by members of the two practice teams.
"We don't want anybody sitting on the bench, and we may end up having some outstanding players," he said.
Participants were asked to check out various Web sites about the game before the next meeting. A $50 cash registration fee is required at the Jan. 23 meeting for all players, coaches and referees. This registers them with the USA Roller Sports Association.
Melissa "Mo Pain" Ditteberner of Gayville, Iowa, a close friend of Libby Claeys, said she has never played Roller Derby, but she skates a lot and can hardly wait to begin.
Morningside College student Angie Edwards of Correctionville, Iowa, said she is excited about the game. "I roller skated a lot as a kid. I work with Libby and she's excited and she got me excited about it," Edwards said.
Though she's never played Roller Derby, Edwards said she is a competitive person who played all the sports in high school. "It sounds fun," she said.
"I've already signed up," said Laura Macklem of Sioux CIty. "I'm really excited about it. When my fiance Ralph and I go to the (Sioux Falls) Roller Dollz all the time and watch and I always told him, 'Man, I wish Sioux City would get a team 'cuz I wanted to kind of sign up with them but their practice times would conflict with my work schedule. So I couldn't do it. And when I saw it in The Weekender, I was just like -- Wow, I can't wait!"
Macklem said she roller skates on a regular basis at the Rollerama with her two kids, and has become an expert at dodging small, moving objects, and can now skate faster backwards than anybody else can forward.
Much needs to be done over the next few months, Phil Claeys told them. Though the teams will develop at their own pace, he said he hopes to have them ready for a "big event" contest at the Long Lines Family Recreation Center during next July's River-Cade celebration.
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sandwich wrote on Jan 10, 2009 1:42 AM:
VanDawl wrote on Aug 12, 2008 3:53 PM:
Good Luck!
VanDawl
Windy City Roller
Chicago, IL "
Michelle wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:02 AM:
Interested wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:49 PM:
Swine wrote on Jan 9, 2008 2:38 PM: